If you have a knife block...

[klmama]

If you have a knife block, including 6 steak knives, do you keep additional knives?  How many and for what purposes?  

 

ETA:  Thanks for the input!  New question.  Is there a store that sells knives that you can pick up individually to see how they feel in your hand?  Every place I've seen that sells them has "sample" blocks out, but all the knives are locked into the blocks somehow.  It's impossible to get a clear idea of how they feel, how much they weigh, how they balance, etc.  Store suggestions?

Edited December 27, 2020 by klmama

[mommyoffive]

We have a  knife block and all our good cutting knives are in it.  But we keep butter knives in a drawer too. 

[Anne]

I keep more than 6 steak knives because I occasionally serve more than six people something that needs a sharp knife.  I have never needed more than 8 knives at a time, so ideally I would only own 8.  However, they are sold in blocks of 6, so I own 12!

Anne

[Amy Gen]

I have 2 knife blocks, but my favorite place for leftovers is a magnetic strip on the wall. 

[MercyA]

Only butter knives. 🙂 

[Selkie]

We have an in-drawer knife block with several chef's knives, santokus, paring knives, and bread knives. We don't have any steak knives - we never really eat anything that a regular butter knife can't cut.

[gardenmom5]

When we got married, dh had a nice set of chicagos kept in a drawer with knife liner. . .  Then he bought himself a set of wusthofs with a knife block . . . I thought we'd get rid of the chicagos.  nope.  I prefer the chicago 62S utilities for substantial cut to the little wusthof steak knives.  (we also have a set of henkel steak knives.)

so - bigger selection of knives and somethings we use the wusthofs, and others the chicagos (we have a 12" slicer that hasn't been made for a long time.  the 10" is too short.)- I do like the wusthof bread knife. 

[PeterPan]

I have the biggest cherry knife block I could find, because I was buying one to hold my knives and dd's. Now she has hers with her, so it's a little empty, hehe. Dh bought me some more for Christmas.

I doubt you'll have too many. Always keep them in a block (or magnet strip, not loose in a drawer) and acquire slowly so you can get ones you really like that fit your hands and your needs. 

Or just get a set that comes with a block and move on with life. 

Adding: We don't use steak knives, just serrated table knives. I keep a slew of favorite paring knives where steak knives would go. Don't eat steak anyway, lol.

I just counted, and my block has 35 slots. I have no clue where I found it.

https://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-35-Slot-Grand-Cherry-Block/dp/B001CHDEAI  This is what it looks like. It's sorta big, so you better measure before you buy it, lol. It's way deeper than a normal knife block.

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/wusthof-35-slot-storage-block/  You can buy it!

But like I said, I use all those little slots for various paring knives. I would never put steak knives in there. The space is too valuable and those should go at point of use. I keep kitchen shears in my knife block too. I used to have two pairs, one point and one regular, and I don't know where the pointy pair went to. 

Edited December 26, 2020 by PeterPan

[kristin0713]

I have extra steak knives because once upon a time, when life was normal, I hosted Thanksgiving for my big family. I also have one extra bread knife and one extra carving knife. 

[Tap]

My block had a few empty holes when i bought it, i have since filled it.. I limit myself to the number of knives that go in the holes (12 or so kitchen knives, plus 8 steak). In a box, I have extra steak knives and extra silverware for large family events.

[cjzimmer1]

I have 2 blocks.  One is the big one with all the assorted chef, bread, cheese and a few pairing knives.  The other has 6 steak knives (that we use just like a pairing knife).  I actually have a few more knives that we double stack in the holes of the big block.  Most days we have 6-10 knives that have been dirtied (I wish I could convince my kids to reuse them but alas they are too worried that was cut previously might contaminate their apple that they always grab a new one).  

[PeterPan]

2 hours ago, cjzimmer1 said:

I have 2 blocks. 

This is why I got the 35 slot block. 

[klmama]

Thanks for the input!  New question.  Is there a store that sells knives that you can pick up individually to see how they feel in your hand?  Every place I've seen that sells them has "sample" blocks out, but all the knives are locked into the blocks somehow.  It's impossible to get a clear idea of how they feel, how much they weigh, how they balance, etc.  Store suggestions?

Edited December 27, 2020 by klmama

[PeterPan]

7 hours ago, klmama said:

Is there a store that sells knives that you can pick up individually to see how they feel in your hand? 

William Sonoma, Sur la Table

[PeterPan]

7 hours ago, klmama said:

It's impossible to get a clear idea of how they feel, how much they weigh, how they balance, etc. 

A few tips there. One, once you try several knives at a kitchen store, you'll probably have a good sense of what you like. My hand is large for a woman but not for a man. I like Wusthof Classic but not their Ikon line. Ikon has a longer handle. You'll get a sense of the weight, but honestly that's design. I think you'll find going from locked blocks to individual knives there will be a huge jump. Then just pick one, try it, see what you think. There are starter sets that will have say a paring knife and a chef's knife. That's a really nice place to start. 

When I bought my dd's knives (F Dick Premier) I just read reviews on amazon. The reviews said they were larger for a man's hand, which fit her better, and they said the weights were good. They've turned out to be wonderful. So you will get a feel for what you like and can slowly add. I watch for deals on ebay, amazon, etc. I think things may be harder to find right now. People were home more and cooking more. If prices seem high on what you want, watch for deals, kwim? 

https://www.amazon.com/s/?k=victorinox+knife&ref=sugsr_2&pd_rd_w=kwcgA&pf_rd_p=0ec05f25-9534-48fe-9c3e-40b89957230e&pf_rd_r=K0EFV8EN1HVKZRVW9YW3&pd_rd_r=2ee7e233-5a0f-482d-b7d2-34f142d2ce2b&pd_rd_wg=QeSTz&qid=1609080438  Victorinox makes a line of knives that review quite well with Cook's Illustrated. If you want something that gets you into a better knife but doesn't drain the bank, they're probably worth looking at. 

[KungFuPanda]

I’m seriously considering an under-the-cabinet magnet so I can get the knife block off my counter. Most of mine fit the block. I have a few extras sheathed and in a drawer.